Kaylen Davidson & Nick Godin

July 29
|
Pittsburgh, PA

Photographed by: Joe Buissink

Hoping to watch Stanley Cup playoffs, Kaylen Davidson and Nick Godin first met in the recreational room at their shared apartment building. “The television was broken, which forced us to talk. [But] after being friends for a few months, we realized there was something special and began dating,” the bride reflects. Wanting to surprise his beloved, Nick asked some friends, who are movie producers, to create a fake invitation to a movie screening in Beverly Hills, California. As the couple arrived in their glamorous attire, Nick popped the question and even hired a secret photographer to capture their special moment.

Despite the convenience of a Los Angeles soirée, the couple decided to host their nuptials in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania so that most relatives could attend. This also meant that Kaylen could finally fulfill one of her childhood fantasies. “Our ceremony and reception venue were the two places in my hometown where I always said, ‘If I were to get married in Pittsburgh, those would be the venues,'” she reveals. Agreeing on a natural palette of white, ivory, and green, the pair elected a garden rose theme for the celebration. “I envisioned an enchanting lush garden filled with roses and natural greenery,” explains the bride. In true spirit of the ambience, lush garlands lined the aisle that led to a stunning ceremony arch adorned with garden roses, peonies, and verdure. The charming pathway perfectly paired with her beautiful ivory gown, which flaunted 3D floral appliqués.

The reception décor mimicked that of the ceremony, and votive candles were placed throughout the space to provide a romantic feel. As each guest pulled out their chairs, they noticed an ivory box tied with a bow that contained two special items. In addition to organic maple syrup in a maple leaf glass bottle, which honored Nick’s hometown in Vermont, they received a photograph of an animal. “We also wanted to include our passion of animal rights and raising awareness, so we sponsored an animal for every guest from the three Gentle Barn locations. We had custom photo cards made of each animal with a description on the back of each one.” The animal-loving pair also had cat props that imitated their two pet felines and encouraged guests to posed with them in the photo booth. Another unique touch was a personalized song performed by Canadian singer Andrew Allen. “I had a custom song created for my father-daughter dance by one of my dad’s favorite artists as a surprise for him,” the bride tells.

Reflecting on her special day, Kaylen affirms that all couples need to embrace every single moment. “Things will not go as planned, and the wedding is going to feel perfect even with the imperfections. Enjoy every moment together. It goes by so fast.”